TMI Blog2014 (8) TMI 701X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... adopted for coming to the conclusion that the demand is time barred is that the respondent-assessee's records have been audited by the departmental audit team and "it would be difficult to accept that the audit party did not check each and every aspect relating to valuation of excisable goods manufactured and cleared by the manufacturers during the period under audit, especially when the appellant had opted for invoice based assessable value in terms of Rule 173(C) of the Central Excise Rules, 1944. Therefore, relying on the decision of this Tribunal in the case of Mutual Industries ltd. vs. Collector of Central Excise [2000 (227) ELT 578], the learned lower appellate authority has come to the conclusion that the demand is time-barred. ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... pex Court in Jaishri Engg. Co. (P) Ltd. vs. Commissioner of Central Excise 1989 (40) ELT 214 (S.C.) and the decision of this Tribunal in Nizam Sugar Factory vs. Commissioner of Central Excise, Hyderabad 1999 (114) ELT 429 , this Tribunal came to the conclusion that specific knowledge on the part of the department has to be established by the assesee about the activities carried out by him and in the absence of such knowledge, extended period of time could be invoked. 3.2 The learned Additional Commissioner (AR) also relies on the decision of the hon'ble High Court of Gujarat in the case of Commissioner of Central Excise vs. Neminath Fabrics Pvt. Ltd. 2010 (256) ELT 369 wherein it has been held that Section 11A(3)(ii) of the Finance Act ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... M/s. Bajaj Auto Limited. From the statements of the concerned officials of M/s Bajaj Auto Ltd., who got the vehicle parts manufactured through the respondent-asssessee, it is seen that the respondent were receiving dies/moulds on loan/returnable basis from M/s. Bajaj Auto Limited for manufacture of different motor vehicle parts. The amortised cost of these dies was not considered while finalizing purchase orders and determining the terms and conditions of supply. This it is evident from the statement of Shri S.R. Malpani, Sr. Manager - Materials and Shri S.G. Naniwadekar, Sr. Manager - Materials of M/s. Bajaj Auto Ltd. From the statement of Shri S.M. Nahar, proprietor of the respondent-assessee, it is seen that critical dies were supplied ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X ..... been clearly laid down that the concept of knowledge on the part of the department is not a relevant factor for computation of time-limit under the provisions of Section 11A(3)(ii) of the Central Excise Act, 1944. When the law does not provide for taking into account the knowledge of the department, it is not permissible to incorporate such factor as part of the legal provisions. The decision of the hon'ble High Court of Gujarat in the case of Neminath Fabrics Pvt. Ltd. makes this position very clear: "The termini from which the period of 'one year' or 'five years' is to be computed is the relevant date as defined in sub-section (3)(ii) of section 11A of the Act. A plain reading of the said definition shows ..... X X X X Extracts X X X X X X X X Extracts X X X X
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